On This Planet Or The Next
Sitting atop the rocky cliff Loki and Sylvie watched the mossy creatures hunt their prey. Eventually when they were hungry Loki used his magic to produce the sandwiches they’d bought before leaving New York that morning.
“So, unless there is a yeti bed and breakfast I am unaware of, we shall need to decide on somewhere to sleep tonight. Is there any locale in particular you wish to visit this evening?”
Sylvie thought for a moment as she chewed her sandwich.
“Morag.”
“Uh, a bit bleaker than I was thinking…”
“Perhaps if you visit it in the 21st century… but that’s not the Morag I know,” she grinned.
Loki’s face lit up, “before it fell…”
“The civilization was advanced in many ways, but ultimately they couldn’t prevent the environmental catastrophes brought on as the planet overheated,” Sylvie finished the last of her sandwich looking contemplative, “I used to visit before the end… the oceans were rising, but it was beautiful nonetheless.”
Something flickered in Loki’s eyes which looked at once rueful and impressed.
“What is it…?”
“It’s nothing…. I just, I once thought myself well-traveled, yet the more time I spend with you, the smaller my purview seems in contrast…”
“Well I may have been to more planets, but I certainly never got to enjoy them for long. I was always just passing through,” she said sadly.
Loki took her hand, “I know, I don’t mean to sound petty. I am admiring of all the places in time you have been, worlds—I could never have seen before I left my timeline.”
“But you can now,” she smiled and got to her feet, tugging him along with her, “so I’ll take you to the places forgotten by time…”
Loki smiled fondly as he followed suit, “And I can show you of the worlds that never fell.”
“Seems we have a rather full dance card,” Sylvie smirked.
Loki chuckled, “Good thing you found the perfect dance partner then,” he held out a hand in a dramatic bow, “my lady?”
Sylvie rolled her eyes, “it’s gonna take a lot more than that to make me dance, Laufeyson.”
“Mm, I gladly accept your challenge.”
Saying goodbye to the peaceful planet Sylvie retrieved the TemPad to punch in the proper coordinates.
As they walked through the portal Loki briefly wondered what Morag could possibly have been like, his imagination immediately falling short on the other side.
All around them were well manicured paths and fountains which gleamed beneath a blanket of stars. The rapidly darkening lilac sky took his breath away and Loki turned slowly to take everything in.
“Lovely isn’t it?” Sylvie smiled fondly.
Loki could only nod as she took his hand.
“Come on. I brought us earlier than I’ve ever been, but I think one place I like should already exist.”
They walked along a winding path lined with nyctinastic flowers which were in the process of closing for the night. Crossing over a bridge Loki noted twin waterfalls cascading beneath it down to a shimmering pool.
Along the way they passed arches and pavilions of carved stone. The number of structures increased as they neared the citadel. Buildings adorned with intricate patterns soon loomed around them.
Loki noted that they passed very few people as they walked and felt a small sense of trepidation.
“Sylvie—where is everyone?”
“It’s after dusk, many here observe a religious custom which encourages them to return home after dark,” Sylvie said softly and pulled Loki to follow her down a narrow side path.
“Will they not be then offended by our intrusion? We are outsiders—” he asked looking thoroughly confused.
“One of the lovely things about these people—they are incredibly hospitable. An infinity stone provides their energy source and they have no need for currency. It seems every person fills a role within the society, and everything they need is shared.”
“How very… socialistic?”
Sylvie laughed softly, “I find it refreshing. No one tells them how to live or dictates what they can and cannot do, they simply coexist in harmony…”
“And who governs them? Is there no ruler?”
“I believe it is somewhat democratic, though I admit I never really bothered to find out. When everything falls apart they gather in their places of worship and greet the end with resigned acceptance.”
Loki looked skeptical but Sylvie ignored him as she lamented the tragedy of the planet and it’s people.
“Places like this could never last… I suppose there is some comfort that it remained uncorrupted… younger planets would have taken advantage of such a selfless people.”
Loki was always amazed at how little regard Sylvie seemed to carry for monarchies and rulers. She rejected autocratic ideology in favor of autonomy and self determinism.
“We’re here,” she whispered and approached a large ornate door which she swiftly rapt on in three succinct knocks.
After a few moments the door opened to reveal a pinkish humanoid with yellow eyes who blinked at them curiously.
☌⍜⍜⎅⟒⎐⟒⋏⟟⋏☌⎎⍀⟟⟒⋏⎅, ⍙⟒⊑⎍⋔⏚⌰⊬⍀⟒⍾⎍⟒⌇⏁ ⏃⌿⌰⏃☊⟒⏁⍜⌇⌰⟒⟒⌿⌇⊑⍜⎍⌰⎅⊬⍜⎍⏚⟒⌇⍜☍⟟⋏⎅.
“Good evening, we humbly request a place to sleep should you be so kind.”
The individual looked at Sylvie and smiled softly at her words. He gave a brief nod and gestured for them to enter before closing the door behind them.
⍙⟒⌰☊⍜⋔⟒⏁⍀⏃⎐⟒⌰⟒⍀⌇.
“Welcome travelers.
⏁⊑⟒⌿⍀⟟⟒⌇⏁⌇⊑⏃⎐⟒⍀⟒⏁⟟⍀⟒⎅⏁⍜⏁⊑⟒☊⊑⏃⌿⟒⌰.
The priests have retired to the chapel.
⊬⍜⎍⋔⏃⊬⟒⏃⏁⏃⋏⎅⎅⍀⟟⋏☍⏃⏁⊬⍜⎍⍀⌰⟒⟟⌇⎍⍀⟒.
You may eat and drink at your leisure.”
He gestured first to their left then to their right as he spoke.
⏁⊑⟒☍⟟⏁☊⊑⟒⋏⌇⌰⟟⟒⎅⍜⍙⋏⏁⊑⟒⊑⏃⌰⌰⏁⍜⊬⍜⎍⍀⌰⟒⎎⏁
“The kitchens lie down the hall to your left,
⏃⋏⎅⏃⌿⌰⏃☊⟒⏁⍜⌇⌰⟒⟒⌿⏃⌰⍜⋏☌⏁⊑⟒☊⍜⍀⍀⟟⎅⍜⍀⏁⍜⊬⍜⎍⍀⍀⟟☌⊑⏁.
and a placeto sleep along the corridor to your right.
⏚⟒⍙⟒⌰⌰⏃⋏⎅⊑⏃⎐⟒⌿⟒⏃☊⟒.
Be well and have peace.”
Sylvie smiled gratefully and bowed with respect which Loki hastily copied. The man reciprocated and turned to head off to another large door behind him and left the two alone.
“What was all that?” Loki asked in a hushed voice.
“He welcomed us and offered us food and accommodation for the night. Follow me,” she smirked and headed left down the hall to the kitchen.
“Hungry again already?”
“Not especially, but they do make a lovely sweet bread. Nothing fancy, but as a child I always liked it.”
“How did you come to this place?”
In the kitchen Sylvie found a basket filled with lightly sweetened rolls and hopped up on the counter beside it.
“I found this planet while on the run, I’d just narrowly escaped a group of hunters and wandered around in the city center… scared, alone and hungry.”
She grabbed a roll and stared at it, tearing small pieces off to snack on.
“One of their elders found me and brought me here, I didn’t understand the language then but they fed me and offered me a place to sleep…”
Sylvie looked up at Loki sadly, “this was never a place to stock up on supplies or plot the TVA’s destruction—but when I was small they made me feel safe.”
A sudden swell of gratitude for the planet filled Loki’s heart and he stepped close to tear a piece off the roll in Sylvie’s hands.
“I wish you could’ve grown up on Asgard…with me,” he smiled fondly, “Thor wouldn’t have stood a chance against the two of us…”
Sylvie laughed softly, “little Prince Loki, you must’ve been quite the handful.”
“Quite, though I imagine the young Princess of Asgard would have stolen my heart before I ever knew what love was.”
Sylvie popped the last of the sweet roll into her mouth just as Loki leaned forward to kiss her and grinned as she chewed the large chunk of bread.
Loki exhaled loudly with a pout of frustration making Sylvie shake with silent laughter.
“You would have driven me crazy back then… you still do,” he ran his hands up her thighs slowly.
Sylvie shivered and swallowed the last bit of sweet roll before letting out a shuddering exhale at the predatory glint in his eyes.
“Not here, min elskede,” she murmured softly as her breath quickened.
“Rgh, this is the second place you’ve brought us where I cannot have you—I’m starting to think there is a pattern,” he growled low and heated.
Sylvie’s eyes danced with mischief, “I like seeing you so pent up and wanting. You feel that tension—” she leaned a little closer, her sweetened breath ghosting over his lips, “it’ll only get stronger… and I want you desperate for me.”
“Oh Sylvie, I’m always desperate for you—” his breath stuttered and Sylvie suddenly kissed him.
Their hands groped and caressed each other as they kissed passionately. Sylvie slowed the frantic press of their lips and nipped at him gently.
“Calm your passions, think of it like a game…”
“I don’t like games,” Loki panted.
“Liar,” Sylvie smirked.
“Guilty…”
Loki chuckled darkly and gave her a quick kiss before stepping back to regain some self control.
Sylvie hopped down from the counter and threw him a haughty grin.
“Well come on then, let’s get some rest—tomorrow we’re going back to Earth.”
“I’m not remotely tired,” Loki huffed with pent up frustration as he followed her dutifully.
“We’ll think of something.”
On their way down the corridor, Sylvie made a split decision and pulled Loki into a supply closet. Instructing him to keep quiet, she palmed him boldly and made sure he was soon plenty tired enough for bed after a quick release.
“There now, are we feeling sleepy yet?” She murmured sweetly in the dim light as he recovered.
Loki huffed a soft breathless laugh, “You’re a mad woman…”
“Is that supposed to be new information?” She teased and arched a brow at him imperiously.
Loki shook his head gently, “Merely reiterating… my love…”
“Good, come along then. I fancy sprawling atop that broad chest of yours while you lull me to sleep with endless nattering about how amazing I am.”
Loki chuckled softly, “I’d like nothing more.”
They made their way down the corridor to a large room with a vaulted ceiling. A number of small alcoves split off on either side while the center of the room was filled with stacked sleeping bunks.
Sylvie wandered over to an alcove on the far left with Loki following in tow. The large cot appeared unoccupied judging by the bedding which was merely folded at the foot. Loki flicked his wrist to send the sheets and blanket into place over the bed while Sylvie stepped out of her shoes.
Loki transformed their clothes into more comfortable ones for sleep and climbed between the sheets. Sylvie crawled in beside him and tucked herself against him.
“Mm love, would you care for me to return the favor before you sleep…?”
“Not now, there may be priests attempting to sleep out there,” she murmured softly, “I’m quite satisfied with the memory of you panting above me in that dark closet… besides, you can owe me one tomorrow.”
Loki hummed softly, “I think after that one I may owe you two, which I shall eagerly repay the next time we are in private…”
He kissed her slow and sensual as Sylvie melted against him with a sigh. She eventually moved to get comfortable lying partially on his chest and Loki stroked her hair softly.
“My Sylvie…” he murmured reverently, “Ord kan ikke beskrive min kjærlighet til deg… words cannot describe my love for you…”